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As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  
Matthew 3:16-17

 
On a Sunday in September of 1983 at Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown, PA, I was baptized as an infant.  It was a special day, not that I remember, but I know because it was also the day of my dad’s ordination as a pastor.  My dad’s brother, Uncle Gary to me, poured water on my baby head as I wore a white frilly dress.
 
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
 
My parents made a public declaration and covenant that day to raise me in God’s truth.  I was not yet quite a year old, however my infant baptism was an important part of my life as my parents chose to consecrate me to the Lord and asked for the support of the church family in raising me to know Christ.
 
Almost thirty years later, God prompted me to make a public declaration of the faith that has become my own.  I began thinking about it in Cape Town, month two of my race. I prayed about it occasionally, asking God to give me the opportunity if it was something I should do.  And I also asked that it would be in an ocean.
 
Fast forward to month six.  I’m in India.  Pastor K and his wife Diamond, our contacts, offered to take us to the seacoast.  The first thing that popped into my head was, “Should I ask him to baptize me?”

 
And in the next moment he asked each one of us if we have been baptized.  Yes, each one of my teammates has been baptized, either as an infant, a child, or as a young adult.  I explained that I was baptized as an infant, but that I have been thinking about a believer’s baptism.  However, I did not want to make a decision without talking to my dad and getting his perspective and opinion. 
 
I talked to my dad, and in true Neil Smith fashion, he offered his ecclesiastical answer that I do not need to be baptized again, but that it would be a great and joyful experience, as well as a witness to others.

 
So on Saturday, February 9, 2013 I was dunked not once, but twice, in the Bay of Bengal (part of the Indian Ocean).  I was a bit resistant on the first dunk and pretty much table-topped, so Pastor K dunked me a second time. Ha!  There was laughter, joy, and a rush from the Spirit. 


Ashli gave a word before the baptism from Romans 6.  She reminded us of Paul’s words about death and life, about sin and freedom.

 

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:3-11

 
I did not have a vision like Jesus did following his baptism, but I did feel the presence of God and His never-ending love for me, and pray for more of Him to fill me.

 
I have been washed by the water and have living streams flowing from my life.
 

Photos courtesy of Amy Dillman and Joseph Johnson